Majority Leader Hoyer Statement on FISA

WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today in response to the President's comments on FISA:

“Every Member of Congress knows that our highest duty is to protect America. The President’s comments earlier today implying that any one of us is less focused on the security of our nation were wrong, divisive and harmful.

“The House passed a bill to modernize FISA three months ago. Yet the President insists that a bill passed just this week by the Senate should be rubberstamped, instead of being considered with the deliberation such an important issue deserves.

“President Bush is making the absolutely untenable claim that our national security will be jeopardized unless Congress immediately acts on the Senate bill, even though he and House Republicans opposed and defeated a 21-day extension of the current FISA law that his Administration wrote. If the President and Republicans really believe their own rhetoric, then their actions are grossly irresponsible.

“In fact, if the PAA expires, the President and our intelligence community have all the tools they need to protect our nation.

“Democrats have made it abundantly clear that we are prepared to sit down with the White House and Republicans to work together. But we will not succumb to divisiveness and fear-mongering.”